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Third search and rescue jet unveiled

28 April 2017Share this:

Cobham’s third search-and-rescue aircraft was officially unveiled by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, The Hon Darren Chester MP at Essendon Airport on Wednesday 26 April after being accepted into service by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) earlier this month.

The third specially-modified Bombardier Challenger CL-604 jet completes AMSA’s operational fleet of the most technologically advanced civil search-and-rescue aircraft in the world. These dedicated search and rescue jets are based in Cairns, Perth and now Essendon. A fourth jet will also be modified and based in Essendon as a back-up aircraft.

These aircraft significantly enhance airborne search-and-rescue tasks with faster response times, extended range and considerably longer presence in Australia’s search and rescue region using the latest generation search sensors and providing much-advanced communications with AMSA’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra. The technology on board these aircraft enables AMSA’s Search and Rescue officers to be virtual crew members for the first time ever, with eyes and ears at the scene as events unfold.